Cancel

Open app

Search

El Torito Grill

4.5 (2.8k reviews)
Closed 9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Order El Torito Grill Takeout or Delivery

El Torito Grill Mexican Restaurant Photos

EL TORITO GRILL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - El Torito Grill

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Empty tables yet so many people waiting in the front for hours
Christiana I.

If I could give ZERO stars, I absolutely would. We arrived at 12pm and didn't leave there until 6pm. Literally spent the whole day there. Planned to eat brunch and had dinner LOL. So first off, Mother's Day.. my husband decided to take me and our 4 children for brunch. Waited THREE AND A HALF HOURS to be sat. The hostess was absolutely horrible. Poor communication, extremely arrogant and very inconsiderate. Everyone with a reservation was not being sat at their times. They overbooked and were understaffed. So unprofessional. It was a mess of a situation and us waiting so long, we hoped the service would at least make up for it. They extended brunch just to finally be sat (after complaining there were so many empty tables) we got our plates and guess what, COLD FOOD! That was the icing on the cake. We decided to order from the menu and our server was being so rude after the fact. We informed her that brunch had cold food and she suggested we pay for both brunch and regular menu. I laughed at her and told her to bring the manager. The manager (red hair lady) was very sweet and considerate, of course she didn't make us pay for cold brunch. But anyway. You would think our server would somehow accommodate for the unimaginable wait time, we never even got chips and salsa until we asked for it after waiting 30+ minutes for our food. (Btw the chips and salsa were the only good tasting food on the table) So, 3 hour wait, horrible food AND terrible service. My gosh, this place ruined Mother's Day for me. We spent 2 hours eating our bland food (we were all starving at that point) Even my 1 & 2 year old fell asleep waiting for our food, that's how long we were there. We will never return to this place again. If you plan on coming here for any special holidays, DON'T. Even with a reservation. Trust me when I tell you, they are overbooked and understaffed! I read a review from 11 months ago, Father's Day which said all the same. Tells you all you need to know.

Jessenia R.

I had never even heard of an El Torito Grill before, and apparently this is the last one, and wow, it is amazing. The fresh flour tortillas alone are worth the visit. They're so good you could practically make a whole meal out of them. Three of us shared the sampler platter and it was more than enough food. We actually had leftovers, partly because we couldn't stop eating those tortillas and were completely stuffed. Our son ordered the pizza (which he mostly ignored in favor of the fries), but overall it was such a great experience. The ambiance was so fun. They have a sit-down dining area as well as a club-style bar area, which gives it such a lively vibe. And the service was awesome friendly, attentive, and just made the whole experience even better. We absolutely loved it and will definitely be back. Honestly, every time we go to Knott's Berry Farm, I think this is going to be our new go-to spot. So good. Five stars.

Check out small print at bottom of page, 5% up charge!!!
Anne G.

Our waitress was nice, food good, but they automatically charge an extra 4.9% up-charge for "state regulations"!!!!! Not my problem, if you ask they'll take it off, I feel sorry for people who don't pay attention and are overcharged!!! It's not Covid no excuses to still be doing this, shame on El Torito Grill, it says it's a small business, which it isn't!!!

Build your own..grilled fish taco W chicken enchilada w veggies and black beans
Sunday B.

Our server, Adrian was the best!!! Super friendly and went over and beyond to make sure we had everything we wanted. I got the build your own combo - grilled fish taco w a chicken enchilada- veggies and black beans. The fish taco was the standout-soo flavorful...I really enjoyed it. Do yourself a favor and get the handmade flour tortillas!! I had a few w the salsa and after my lunch...I had one with the sweet butter for dessert-sooooooo gooood!!

DEEP-FRIED ICE CREAM
Holly R.

We have been here twice based on the photos. Both experiences were so vastly different. The food is always tasting delicious and hot when it comes out. This is more based on service time and the experience we had. The first time we came in was a Tuesday night and we sat inside. We had a wonderful experience with a great woman server (she had glasses - we couldn't find her name on the recipe). She made sure our waters were constantly topped off, filled our chips and tortillas, and made sure our food/experience was great. It was such a great experience we were in the mood for their deep fried ice cream and it's just as good as it sounds! This was a 5 star experience. The second time we came was a Sunday late afternoon and sat on their patio for their happy hour. The happy hour deals to amount of food is pretty good. The empanadas were delicious and we always get the queso fundido! Unfortunately, sitting on the patio is not for the faint of heart. It took about 10 minutes for someone to come greet us then another 5 minutes for our waters. I'm usually more understanding but it wasn't busy when we came in. The server was very chill and put our happy hour food on the fly for it to come out. It all came out good and tasted great. We never got our chip or tortillas refill and the tortilla didn't come until after the appetizers were finished. Then we ordered our food and it took 30-35 minutes for it to come out. We didn't experience this long of a wait for food to come out (especially without the server checking on us while we were waiting). We ended up boxing up most of our food because we lost our appetite waiting. This was a 3 star service. Overall, I think we will be choosing to sit inside from now on due to how much better the service is inside versus outside.

Jazzmine D.

I used to come to El torito grill all the time when I was a kid in the 90s, I remember thinking it was so cool because it was up on a hill, I remember it was always packed and they made homemade tortillas. I was coming to town to go Disneyland so I told my friend I wanted to come, she picked me up and we got there at 10:55am they opened at 11am so perfect timing we sat in the car and waited. We came on Tuesday January 6th,2026 we were greeted by a nice older gentleman that looked to me a manager he told us they were having a lunch buffet for $19.99 a person which is a steal the food Looked absolutely delicious but I didn't see anything I could personally eat with my dietary restrictions. We got seated In a booth and looked over the menu. The setting was just as it was all those years ago very nostalgic for me made my heart happy, the server dropped off chips and salsa as well as homemade tortillas and butter and our drinks, we ordered I got the enchilada and taco combo and my fried got a grilled chicken salad, we sat and chatted for awhile, the restaurant started to fill up with the people that worked in buildings surrounding the restaurant. The food and service were great! So happy I could come and eat here again, can't wait to come again next time I'm in town!

Kimberley K.

5 stars for Service 5 stars for decor & ambiance 5 stars for their fresh made TORTILLAS !!!! Yasssssssssss So so GOOD. I had the mesquite smoked flavored fajitas and I would have loved it more except there was so much gristle I could barely eat it ... let's say I tried .. I really really did cuz the flavor was spot on ... but too much of the meat was inedible . . The server did an excellent job of taking care of me , however ... he doesn't control the kitchen

The best way to start our Sunday is with Brunch at El Torito Grill

We enjoyed a great Brunch where the Food was delicious and the Service was Extremely precise. Rosa F. Was our server and her attentiveness and kindness was so enjoyable and made our Sunday Brunch memorable. Because of her we will definitely be returning soon.

Tamarind Margarita
Leslie O.

Our server Rosa was great and the food was even better. A margarita and good playlist we will definitely be back .

Carnitas tacos with green salsa
Antoinette H.

Come down and visit Adrianna. She made our Taco Tuesday worth it. She was very attentive and knew what we wanted before we even asked it. Great customer service!!

Michelada !
Stephanie H.

My husband and I came on Cinco de Mayo and Rosa provided the best experience for us. Offered fresh warm tortillas, fresh yummy drinks and explained the cinco de mayo specials! Thank you so much Rosa we had a great lunch !

Omelette station.
Jenn R.

Went on a Sunday where they offer an all you can eat buffet and I was like, okay... we're overeating today. THE FOOD. They offer a wide variety of food, including enchiladas, carnitas, chicken, ribs, and made-to-order omelettes and tacos. There's even a carving station with tender and slightly smoky tri-tip. Each of their different meats is worth trying, but the chicken ranchero and chicken chile stand out for their great flavors. The ribs are surprisingly good too. The dessert station, with flan, rice pudding, and mini pastries, finishes the meal on a sweet note. THE DRUNK DRINKS. - Bloody Mary. Ordered this morning cocktail. It's bottomless, but coupled with an all you can eat buffet, and therein lies the conundrum. I had two and called it quits. THE VIBE. The decor reflects a warm and inviting Mexican hacienda-style atmosphere. The wait staff keeps plates cleared and drinks refreshed. THE PARKING. Parking is free. We got there right when they opened at 9AM, so it was an empty lot. THE VERDICT. Sunday (fun day) buffet at El Torito Grill delivers both variety and quality, making it a strong pick for weekend brunch.

Timmy S.

This location is on a hill behind a bunch of business buildings, not visible from the street. This chain was intended to be a slightly more upscale version of the traditional El Torito.The interior is large with a welcoming vibe and, while the tables and chairs are a bit worn, the dining area is still very nice and comfortable. We came for dinner and had exemplary service from start to finish. Freshly made tortillas were immediately presented with some salsas and honey butter. I wouldn't have thought of honey butter for tortillas but it was delicious and we both kept slathering it on, opting for it over the salsas. I had a couple of house margaritas over the course of the meal and was impressed with how excellent they were. Kudos to the bartender. I decided to order a couple of appetizers as my meal. First, a summer menu special, chorizo queso fundido, a gooey blend of melted Mexican cheeses with jalapeños, garlic, and cilantro. The chips, for dipping into the delicious cheesiness, were also very good. I also got chicken taquitos. These were shredded chicken with cheese and pico de gallo wrapped in crispy tortillas with both tomatillo-avocado and red pepper dipping sauces. I'm used to having sour cream with taquitos but I honestly didn't miss it, these were so good. I was surprised at how great a meal I had here. Much, much better than what I remember ever getting at any El Torito.

See all

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Faus R.
0
13
31

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 1

2 months ago

Great food great service amazing drinks! I do recommend if you're in the area. Handmade tortillas chef's kiss ..

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

18 days ago

We went for 5 de Mayo and it was a wonderful experience. The food was great and we received really great service from Adriana.

Business owner information

Photo of Janelle O.

Janelle O.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

15 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Paul H.
2
28
19

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lexi J.
3
93
259

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

21 days ago

Adriana provided excellent service! Outstanding service--attentive, friendly staff who made our meal truly enjoyable. !!!!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

22 days ago

Adriana was SUPER helpful! She we very attentive and gave us amazing service!! I highly recommend this place the food was DELICIOUS 10/10!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Love the brunch! Fresh tortillas and our bartender jose is very attentive and the manager is always helpful thank you.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Bryan C.
195
46
33

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Dan Z.
2
159
28

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Gustavo P.

Gustavo P.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of Karolina T.

Karolina T.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Neal W.
423
7
0

22 days ago

Rosa was the best server. She was kind and quick with our great food and always checked in on us. Thank you Rosa!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 days ago

love this place so much the waiters were so amazing francisco and kamren they were so attentive making sure we had everything and more !!!

Business owner information

Photo of Karolina T.

Karolina T.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Dan S.
25
66
97

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Jessica S.

Jessica S.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Adriana was great!!! Very helpful and quick! We will ask for her again. Good food too!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

I got the Carne y camarones!! Our waitress Adriana was super respectful and kind. 10/10 experience

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kathy P.
40
40
12

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Jessica S.

Jessica S.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 3 of 71

El Torito Grill Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - El Torito Grill

Does El Torito Grill have lunch buffets during the work week?

No lunch buffets during the week, only on Sunday and major holidays.

Is happy hour drinks available in the dining area?

Yes! Both the happy hour drinks and food are available in the dining area.

How much do they charge for Sunday Brunch all you can eat?

Thank you for requesting information about our Sunday Bruch. The price is $40.00 for adults and $12.00 for kid's 12 and under, please let us know if you need any other… Read more

Is Taco Tuesday special back like how it was before the pandemic?

Good morning Coleen and thanks for reaching out, YES, Taco Tuesday is back and will be waiting for you today.… Read more

On Sunday's is it just brunch or is the full menu available?

Dear Lindsay, Thanks for reaching out. There is only Brunch during the hours of 9 am to 2 pm. And regular menu right after 2:00 pm… Read more

What are the vegan options? Is the chips fried in the same oil as meat?

I strictly avoid oils and fried foods so I'm not able to tell you what I ordered was a plate of lettuce tomatoes Avocado and I also had pinto beans and they made sure it's not cooked with oil it was boiled.

Are they doing Sunday Brunch?

There was a sign right outside the door last night showing the menu for Sunday Brunch so I'd say yes.

Do they bring out chips and salsa or offer chips and salsa appetizer?

They bring out chips andsalsa (2 kinds) plus sweet butter and freshly made tortillas OMG delicious enjoy also get the table guacamole and roll up the tortillas with the guacamole and salsa. Your welcome in advance

What's the AYCE lunch special?

There is none

How much for Sunday's brunch buffet?

I think roughly $30/pp

Is open for Sunday brunch?

Yes it is! 9am to around 2/3 pm the lastest.

Does anyone know what is in their Butter? Sugar? Honey? Because it's like crack and I need to know!?

It's Honey Butter!

How many are they able to accommodate right now? Looking for a bridal shower restaurant.?

I saw like an engagement party there last time, probably over 15 and under 20 ppl.

The address let me to a souplatation?

Still there in the same location. It's behind Souplantation.

What happened to the waitress named Scarlett? Did she move locations.

She's working at Red O on Newport beach

Buffet prices for kids is 12 and under, but what is under? I have a 3yr old...will he get charged? Do you have a kids menu if they don't want the buffet?

Dear Elizabeth, We normally charge $7.99 for children of any age and under 13 years old. But please tell Jesus (General Manager) that Gustavo Plascencia kindly invited your… Read more

Are there bottomless mimosas on Sunday brunch?

Yes!!! At a point they just give you champagne LOL

Is it unlimited mimosas on Sunday brunch?

Yes!!! At a point they just give you champagne 😂

How much the Sunday Brunch? Do we need to make a reservation?

30 for adults and 11.50 for children between the ages of 2-12 years of age. We do take reservations… Read more

What are the hours for the Sunday brunch?

9am to 2pm

View All 29 Questions

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Mexican 431,546 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Toast Kitchen & Bar - HOUSE: Hickory smoked shoulder bacon, avocado mash, poached eggs and our signature hollandaise sauce.

Toast Kitchen & Bar

4.0(2.5k reviews)
0.7 mi
$$
Full bar
Outdoor seating

I've visited Toast in Whittier which I wasn't as impressed enough to leave a review but today I…read morecame to brunch with my husband, daughter and her boyfriend. We made a reservation and were seated immediately. This location is always very clean and welcoming. We ordered strawberry mimosas, the simple breakfast, omelettes and a burrito with a side of green sauce. Everything was cooked to perfection. The best part of this visit was being served by Thaer. Thaer was a great waiter and extremely attentive. He continued to check on us and did not try to rush us out even though we took quite a bit of time. We would definitely recommend this location and we will definitely be back with hopes to be served by Thaer again! (Sorry not photos, we came hungry and I forgot to take them ‍)

Came here for breakfast with my son. I have passed by this place so many times and I finally made…read moreit inside. You have to be careful not to pass it since there is only one entrance to the parking lot , if you pass the entrance you will have to make a U-turn and come back. We didn't think we would get seated fast because the parking lot was pretty full. But we got lucky and were seated right away. Service is pretty good , they have a lot of people working here. The place is really big and has a lot of seating. It was quite busy. I ordered a Spanish omelette and my son ordered the blueberry pancakes. My omelette was ok, it had way too much peppers and I didn't see the cheese , it comes with a side so I went with country potato with onions and bell peppers. I only wish that it included some kind of toast. My son's pancakes were ok, they are only topped with blueberries we thought the blueberries were going to be inside the batter or inside the pancake. He had to add a lot of syrup to make them soft. The one thing I will say is that the house coffee is very good. It's Lavazza coffee which is really good. I wouldn't mind coming back and trying some other options or coming back for lunch or happy hour.

Photos
Toast Kitchen & Bar - Our veggie omelette is stuffed with crimini mushrooms, onions, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

Our veggie omelette is stuffed with crimini mushrooms, onions, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

Toast Kitchen & Bar - Santa Barbara Benedict-Wild caught Alaskan smoked salmon, red onions, capers, and hollandaise sauce.

Santa Barbara Benedict-Wild caught Alaskan smoked salmon, red onions, capers, and hollandaise sauce.

Toast Kitchen & Bar

See all

Madres Brunch

Madres Brunch

4.5(1.1k reviews)
5.4 mi
$$

The place was very cute, a lot of pink aesthetic. It felt a little geared towards the influencer…read moretype, which is funny to see outside of Los Angeles but it was beautiful and clean nonetheless. The server was very kind and helpful, he was communicative and attentive. And the food! The food was great! It tasted good, AND seemed healthy and nutritious. Also, I appreciated their variety of options. I have a dairy allergy, and am often quite limited in what I can comfortably/safely eat, especially going out for breakfast. But here, they had multiple alternative dairy options! I even was able to get an oat milk latte! I will definitely be back. Love this place and am so glad they opened up this location.

LOTS OF INDOOR SEATING; easily able to host big parties and big families. Slow during the week days…read moreand busier on the weekends. We went on a Thursday morning at 8:30am and it was empty! Service was friendly and quick. Restrooms are available inside. Hot lattes were delicious but more so "WARM LATTES" and not actually HOT /: which was disappointing but the flavor was good. We got the coffee flight: Pistachio, Chocolate, & Horchata. Food was good but it lacked seasoning - i definitely had to add quite a bit of salt and hot sauce to enjoy it. I would probably go somewhere else if I wanted eggs Benedict. We ordered the Birria eggs Benedict and the chilaquiles. It was good but nothing exciting, I would order something else next time or go to a different breakfast spot. But overall, I left happy but not full.

Photos
Madres Brunch - Wall art

Wall art

Madres Brunch - Toast Sampler | IG @moniquedao

Toast Sampler | IG @moniquedao

Madres Brunch - Chilaquiles Verdes

See all

Chilaquiles Verdes

Shorty'z

Shorty'z

4.5(982 reviews)
2.8 mi
$$

Breakfast burrito? Yes please. This is probably one of the best breakfast burritos I've ever had…read moreand this place knows how to load up a burrito. I went with the meat lovers version and this thing was packed. Eggs, hash browns, sausage, bacon, ham, melty cheese, and all wrapped tight in a warm tortilla. They don't skimp on anything. It's got that diner-style heartiness, and when you pour on the red or green salsa...Boom! everything just ties together. The homeade salsa was amazing also! Inside, it's got a classic local joint feel. Booths, tile floors, jerseys and photos on the wall, it gives off that neighborhood diner energy. The staff's cool, real chill. The guys behind the counter looked like they were having a good time while working, which always makes the whole place feel more welcoming. I'm not even from this area, just happened to be driving through and needed a good breakfast spot. Yelp pointed me here, and I'm glad it did. Total hidden gem for sure. If you're hungry and in the mood for a serious burrito, ot whatever tour in the mood for, swing by for sure!

I searched up popular breakfast spots around the area and came across Shorty'z. The staff here is…read morewelcoming and friendly. You order at the front, and a staff member brings the food over to your table. We were about to eat inside their patio while it was a little chilly, but some indoor booths opened up for us. We both got the bacon burrito ($14). This is a large breakfast burrito with chopped bacon, two scrambled eggs, hash browns, and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla. You can pick either red or green salsa. I liked the green salsa as it had a good balance of spice and flavor. The burrito has a lot of hash browns, which can overpower the overall flavor and other ingredients. The breakfast burrito seemed a little pricy, but the portion size made up for it. I even took a small remnant of leftovers home.

Photos
Shorty'z - Walk up order

Walk up order

Shorty'z - Bacon breakfast sandwich.

Bacon breakfast sandwich.

Shorty'z

See all

El Torito Grill - mexican - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...